After two years of virtual meetings, AACRAO’s Congressional Hill Day will return to Capitol Hill on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
What is Hill Day?
AACRAO Hill Day is a unique opportunity for members to engage
with congressional offices about their experiences of working in higher education and discuss the association’s legislative agenda. Members have the chance to connect with others, share their policy perspectives, and ensure decision-makers are
aware of member issues.
AACRAO Hill Day allows lawmakers to learn more about AACRAO, our policy priorities, and the important work that our members do on their campuses and for their students,” said Michelle Mott, AACRAO’s Director of Public Policy. But it’s also a great professional development opportunity to network with other AACRAO members and hone your advocacy skills.
Who should attend Hill Day?
The in-person event will be held in person in Washington, DC on Thursday, June 22 in tandem with the AACRAO Leadership Meeting, which takes place June 23 – 25, 2023. However, Hill Day participation is not limited to leadership meeting attendees.
Everyone is encouraged to apply.
In particular, members from the 26 states represented on the House and Senate education committees are encouraged to participate. The states included are:
Alabama Alaska California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Kansas | Kentucky Louisiana Maine Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Missouri New Hampshire New Mexico New York | North Carolina Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Wisconsin |
Hear from Members on Past Hill Day Gatherings
Our AACRAO national office did a fantastic job organizing the visits with numerous House and Senate members who hold positions on congressional education committees...
...As they get to know more about these issues, they will make us part of the conversation and look to us as a resource when making decisions about higher education legislation.
How to Apply:
Members interested in participating in AACRAO’s Congressional Hill Day should complete the application form by April 28, 2023.
This year's in-person Hill Day will be a full-day event. Selected advocates should plan to arrive on the evening of Wednesday, June 21. AACRAO will coordinate and cover up to two nights of lodging for the event.
Advocates will participate in online training to prepare them for Hill Day, including AACRAO's on-demand Federal Legislative Process and Advocacy 101 course.
Other training sessions cover what to expect for Hill Day, an overview of AACRAO’s policy priorities, a panel discussion with Congressional staffers, and mock meetings with Congressional offices, as well as an on-site question and answer
session with AACRAO Government Relations staff on the morning of June 22 prior to scheduled meetings with congressional offices.